Govt Declares Soya Meal As Essential Commodity, Imposes Stock Limits To Cool Down Its Domestic Prices

In a bid to cool down the domestic prices of Soya Meal, the government has declared ‘Soya Meal’ as an essential commodities up to 30 June next year.

Further, the government has also imposed stock limits on Soya Meal for a period upto 30 June 2022.

"Government has notified an Order under the Essential Commodities Act to declare ‘Soya Meal’ as an Essential Commodities up to 30th June, 2022 by amending the Schedule of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955," the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution said in a release on Friday.

"The decision would empower the Union Government and all States, UTs to regulate production, distribution etc. of Soya Meal and to smoothen the sale and availability of this item in the market. It will stop unfair market practices and enhance the availability for consumers like Poultry farm and Cattle feed manufacturers," the ministry said.

In another statement, the ministry said that the goverment has "issued an Order by which it has imposed stock limits on Soya Meal for a period upto 30th June 2022".

"The Soya Meal Stock Control Order, 2021 has been issued with immediate effect i.e. from 23rd December, 2021. Under this Order, the stock limit has been set in consultation with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the following stock limits have been promulgated of all Soya meal for a period upto 30 June 2022 with following stock limits for all States and Union Territories:

• Plant/Miller/Processor: Maximum stock of 90 days production, as per daily input production capacity of Plant/Miller/Processor, defined in its IEM. The storage location should be declared.

• Trading company/Trader/Private Chaupals: Only Government registered enterprise, maximum stock of 160 MT with a defined and declared storage location.

In case of stocks held by respective legal entities are higher than the prescribed limits then they shall declare the same on the portal of Department of Food and Public Distribution and bring it to the prescribed stock limits within 30 days of the issue of this notification, the ministry said.